Aintree to the End

I went from Liverpool to Aintree, where I spent the night but didn't see any racehorses, then to Old Roan to find I had to come back to Liverpool in order to get the right train towards Southport, the final destination of Mrs Smith's Big Walk. I could have walked but it was 5 hours of railway track and I really wanted to walk along the coast and have time to see Southport. I went to Ainsdale and got lost on the sand dunes until I thought "Hang on a minute, where's the Irish Sea?" I found the beach like an enormous desert stretching out before me. In the far far distance was something that looked like cliffs - it was the sea with big waves. I only knew it was the sea as there was an oil rig in it. I walked towards Southport with the wind whipping the stinging sand against my legs and after about two hours could see Blackpool in the far distance. Where was the sea? I arrived at the coastguard's hut on the beach. Hello I've walked all the way from Hull "The band's just left but welcome to Southport" says our witty man. He tells me the tide won't change for a long time now so Southport will be without sea for a few weeks maybe even til autumn. Then when the tide does come in it goes all over the sea wall and across the road. We are talking about water so far away you couldn't actually see it.

I found the end of the Trans Pennine Trail marker. Theirs revolves - Hornsea's doesn't. I then felt triumphant at my 215 miles (with a bit of trains) and went to the lawnmower museum to celebrate. Then back to the lovely South, my lovely dog, boys and of course, Mr Smith.